Home  Chamber News Town of Brookhaven Wheelchair Athletic Program TOB Wheelchair Athletic Web Site, Dec-01-2004, 12:24 PM The ultimate goal of rehabilitation for disabled individuals has shifted over time from an extension of their life expectancy to attainment of an optimal level of independent living and quality of life. Increased fitness through physical exercise or sports is beneficial to disabled individuals and their longevity in life. People with disabilities experience a dramatic change in the way their time is spent. They typically do not return to work right away and must adjust to sudden “forced leisure”. This “forced leisure” often forces people with disabilities to make sudden, radical lifestyle changes. Many persons need to learn new leisure skills, particularly those who did not value leisure time prior to their injury. Many people experience difficulty in making this leisure time adjustment. And turn to alcohol and substance abuse and a sedentary life style. One factor that has a serious negative effect on the quality of life for individuals with disabilities is a deterioration of their physical fitness through “disuse” or physical de-conditioning. The normal aging process, combined with physical de-conditioning can significantly limit individual independence and activities of daily living. Participation is sports or exercise cannot only increase the longevity of a person’s life, but it can make their everyday living style easier. Those who are in better physical shape can maneuver their wheel chair better than those who are not in good physical shape. They may experience less difficulty in negotiating curbs or hills and they may possess more confidence in handling their chair [ external link ] Go Back